Feeder calf auctions in Tararua limp to a close

Only local buyers attended the final NZ Farmers Livestock feeder bull sale of the season.

The final feeder calf sales took place in Tararua this week with 50 stock selling at each of the NZ Farmers Livestock and PGG Wrightson's sales.

Prices were typical of the end of season although white faced bull calves which had age (10 days) earned some premium sales going as high as $180/head a week ago in Dannevirke.

"Let's get out of here." These Angus heifers seem keen to get to their new home.

Both sales this week had virtually no Friesian calves with even numbers of beef cross bulls and heifers prices reflecting quality and buyer interest.

White-faced Friesian-cross bulls ranged between $80/head and $140/head while some good quality Angus-cross bulls also averaged the $100 mark.

Heifers were less in demand, the average being $80/head.

PGG Wrightson's livestock manager, Bjorn Andersen, said the season was very difficult, many potential calf raisers being burnt by the drought/Covid crisis early in the year and reluctant to take the risk.

He said uncertainty about the beef schedule and the upcoming summer also added to the risk but nevertheless there were many excellent calves for sale thanks to a mild winter and benign spring which resulted in beef crosses in particular reaching some of last year's prices.

Cameron Smith of NZ Farmers Livestock said plenty of stock have been offered over the season and good prices recently reflected more aged stock, farmers holding stock for just the one sale in the week.

All feeder calf sales are now finished in Tararua but weaner bulls go up for sale on November 10 at the PGG Wrightson auction.